“Cell phone theft has become a big business for thieves looking to cash in on these devices and any valuable information they contain, costing consumers more than $30 billion every year and endangering countless theft victims,” Klobuchar said in a statement.

She said the legislation would help protect personal information and would deter robberies by lowering the value of stolen cell phones that had its data erased.

The legislation would also require technology to render the phone permanently inoperable to anyone but the owner as well as prevent its reactivation.

“Victims of cell phone theft should be able to fight back so they aren’t victimized again through data and identity theft. And thieves should know that whenever they steal a cell phone, they won’t be able to use it or sell it,” Mikulski said.